I’m a fan of packing as much storage into interiors as possible. But I also appreciate flexibility and an open, lightweight look. So often, instead of big, built-in solutions, I assemble collections of furniture that meet storage needs without feeling bulky. Think free-standing cabinets with tall legs flanking the living room fireplace to house a collection of cherished family photo albums.

I also want to take a moment to rant about console tables. There are so many beautiful designs, but with nearly all of them, I want to scream, “Put a drawer on it!” As far as I can see, there is no good reason not to have a drawer and a shelf on a console table – someplace to stash a bag, a pair of shoes, the spare keys, or the doggie bags.

Work with what you have

Don’t be afraid of working with what you have. If you have extra space in your laundry room and not enough in your pantry, use that space for pantry items! However, this is not permission to be haphazard in your storage habits. Keep like things with like things.

Though we are moving toward being a paperless society, we are not quite there yet. One good tip I heard from an organization-fairy-godmother, and love to practice, is to sort the mail as it comes into the house. Unnecessary items are tossed into the recycle bin, and the mail is placed in a tray to take further action with later. It helps so much to prevent clutter by deciding right at the door what you will allow into your home.

Starting fresh

When designing a remodel or new build, we as designers are positioned perfectly to help our clients (or ourselves!) optimize daily flow, both customizing spaces, and maximizing organization.

When designing kitchens, I take inventory of what types of tools, appliances, and supplies my clients have, and then design their kitchen to have high-frequency use items close at hand and low-frequency use items further away from the main work area. Knife collection? Have a drawer for that! Paper towels in bulk? Have a cabinet for that! Sparkling water obsession? Have a shelf for that!

One client wanted a dedicated space for their sacred morning coffee ritual. The solution took advantage of an enclosed stairwell protruding inconveniently into the kitchen. The depth of the stairwell is now hidden by the kitchen’s new “coffee center” and pull-out pantry nestled perfectly behind. The client gained a hallowed space for coffee in the morning, extra accessible storage, and maximum square feet in their new kitchen.

Call in a professional

As professionals, we know and preach the value of bringing in experts. We know when we need to bring in an architect, a surveyor, or Title 24 consultant. Personally and professionally, I have benefitted from professional organization services. We want our community to value us as experts, so let’s practice what we preach! Let’s call in the dedicated closet designers, the qualified garage outfitters, and the professional organizers.

What I strive for in my interior design practice, and in my own home, is to create spaces that support a meaningful life. Each space must be thoughtfully considered, planned, and optimized with beautiful silhouettes, useful storage, organizational tools, and negative (empty) space. Designing our homes well give us space in our lives to do more of the things that are meaningful to us!

One of the must-see events on my calendar this season was Fog Fair, officially Fog Design + Art, an annual fair held at Fort Mason in San Francisco. Last year’s show set high expectations – but this year did not disappoint! I arrived eager for inspiration, and left with a mind full of the most fantastic creative art. Here are the show highlights – according to me!

The star of the show, for sure, was David Zwirner Gallery‘s Meditaton by Yayoi Kusama. You have probably seen Yayoi Kusama’s work (at least floating around instagram) – do polka dot squash ring a bell? Much of the Japanese’s artists work is immersive art – spaces with objects, patterns, and mirrors. Kusama’s infinity rooms are at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington DC until May 14, before traveling to Seattle, and then Los Angeles.

Happy New Year! Looking back, 2016 was very good to me – full of wonderful projects, adventure, and travel!

2016 Highlights:

Projects of note include #allthatglossandglass, a Woodside remodel of a couple’s forever home; #modernmixitup, a Palo Alto remodel for a vibrant young family; and #housefullofreaders, a transformation of a 1930s home on Christmas Tree Lane in Palo Alto with new furnishings and fine art. I am so thankful for clients that invite me into their lives, trust me with their design process, and become friends.

I love being an interior designer in the San Francisco Bay Area, but trips to other fab locales always spark new ideas. Travel to Chicago, Seattle, and Palm Springs Modernism Week invigorated me and provided me with endless inspiration.

Finally, #RMHStanfordbyMMID, where I designed three rooms for Where Home Has a Home, the new Ronald McDonald House Stanford, still makes me smile.

2017 is nearly here, which means I better get on it! This holiday season has been all about black and brass for me, and this palette will be extending to our New Year’s Eve party!

BRass bottle Openers

First of all, before we plan this celebration, I am on the hunt for a new bottle opener. How to choose? There are just so many handsome brass ones out there! Here are my favorites. Corkscrew style, bottle top style, geometric, and minimalist, while all beautiful uses of brass as a medium.

Most noteworthy to me is the solid, polished brass bottle opener by Gentner Design. It’s simple form, heavy weight, and the fact that it is handcrafted in Chicago mean that I will never get tired of it! Now that we have made that decision, let’s get to more good stuff!

Party Party party

We need something memorable to drink, and some statement-making pieces for the table. So, here is a collection sure to make ringing in the new year extra special!

Combing through endless items to enhance our interiors (yours, mine, and the world’s), the pieces I most appreciate these days have intense colors, and clear forms. Simplicity is refreshing in the sea of over-designed items. Here are a few pieces I am crushing on right now. Some luxury with soul.

This photograph by Christine Flynn transports me to that vacation I keep saying I am going to take. Ethereal light, lush green trees, and a secluded beach are all I want. I will hang this over my fireplace to remind me to go!

Recently I heard David Whippen, owner of ShopFloor in San Francisco, speak about his creative journey. David prides himself on precise metal work, and the Flock Chandelier shows off his talent. These crisp, perfectly balanced LED light fixtures are combined into a floating collection, and I love them!

The Boat, a bone china bowl with a hefty hand-spliced rope handle, has been on my crush list for a while. I love the combination of the rigid, glossy base with the responsive, rough handle. Designed and made in England by Reiko Kaneko.

I have fallen hard for this Lens Table by McCollin Bryan. A thick, perfectly polished resin top held by the base like a jewel, meets my desire for color and clarity. Available in a plethora of saturated hues, multiple base finishes, and several sizes, there is sure to be a configuration that gets your attention. The emerald and black one above sends my pulse racing!

Of all these design crushes. this sculptural, vintage Warren Platner lounge chair might be my favorite! We all need some vintage mixed with our modern, and this chair from classic mid-century powerhouse, Knoll, would be a bold statement. Distinct in it’s confident form and straightforward upholstery (I can’t resist that color!), this chair would have command of my living room. Or any room for that matter!

This spring is full of fun events in San Francisco – so many wonderful things to anticipate in the world of art and interiors!

Yesterday I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Ronald McDonald House Stanford! I am so proud to have designed and furnished three rooms for the RMHS expansion, “Where Hope Has A Home”. RMHS provides housing and a community for families of critically-ill children at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.

Celebrating: Where Hope Has A Home Ribbon Cutting

At the ribbon cutting, we celebrated that after 22 months of construction, the new 52,000 square foot building is officially open, and families are moving in! Donors, staff, board members, press, the builders, and fellow interior designers gathered to commemorate the hard work resulting in such a beautiful building. The building is called the Arrillaga Family Center, after John Arrillaga. Along with being one of the most significant supporters, he obtained the donation of the land from Stanford.

Annette Eros, RMHS CEO, said that this building will make “such a difference, for so many people, for so long!” I couldn’t agree more.

The three rooms I designed will embrace and nurture families for years to come – giving them a safe place and glimpses of joy in the midst of their health trials. If you believe in the power of design, we still need your support, so please contribute to the cause!

These gold Fin coasters from Souda are the perfect combination of glamour and restraint. I am attracted to the crisp, precise fabrication – which is the result of the design’s roots in industrial heat sinks!

This intriguing self-portrait by Agnieszka Sosnowka immediately captured my attention. She faces the sea in a classical pose, appearing fearless and stalwart. The artist’s series of black and white photographs from Iceland are all equally captivating, but I have my eye on this one for my client’s living room!

I love yoga, but still find it hard to get out the door to make it to class. A fun patterned yoga mat would definitely motivate me! Design and beauty should permeate and enhance all aspects of our lives, so why not have something to smile at in downward-facing-dog?

After yoga class, this chair would be the perfect place to curl up with a book. This new design released by Gebrüder Thonet at Salon del Mobile is so impressive! The Targa chair is a modern interpretation of traditional materials and methods: bentwood and woven cane. Love it!

This handblown glass lamp by WhyrHymer is swoon-worthy, and would be perfect on my bedside chest. The integral wood base grounds the wonderful smoke glass coupe shape. Being hand-made in Los Angeles gives it extra points, but I couldn’t be more enamored with this lamp!

The Nocturnalist side table, in brass and calacatta marble, is a design I keep coming back to. I love the asymmetry created by the unexpected break in the line around the base! This piece is handmade by the duo behind Fifteenthirtyeight in Brisbane, Australia. Visually light, with a functional wide top, this table is perfect for my client’s family room!

This year has many great things in store: exciting new ventures, glossy remodels finishing up, and a renovation beginning in an historic home that has been in the planning stages for a while. It’s so rewarding to see all of the preparation coming to life!

And, the best thing yet: On February 13th our pro-bono project, Where Hope has a Home at the Ronald McDonald House Stanford, will be unveiled for public tours! This project is the result of a year of intense planning. It is an absolute labor of love – something very close to my heart. Take a peak on Instagram: #RMHStanfordbyMMID.

Melinda Mandell

As principal designer of MMID, I am dedicated to the details of my clients’ day-to-day lives, and understand how each of the smallest decisions affects the function of their homes. I thrive off of designer-client relationships, and love collaborating to create the beautiful, custom homes they desire.